Cost of Living Comparison Between Ratnapura and Polonnaruwa Cost of Living Comparison Between Ratnapura and Polonnaruwa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $484 per month in Ratnapura vs $500 in Polonnaruwa, rent included.

A couple spends around $779 per month in Ratnapura vs $830 in Polonnaruwa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,073 per month in Ratnapura vs $1,161 in Polonnaruwa, rent included.

Ratnapura is about 3% cheaper than Polonnaruwa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ratnapura and Polonnaruwa are more affordable than the global median – Ratnapura 65% lower, Polonnaruwa 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 LKR 640

$4.29 LKR 1,418

-54.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.13 LKR 3,019

$25.83 LKR 8,542

-64.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.17 LKR 2,040

$7.83 LKR 2,588

-21.20%

Cappuccino

$2.12 LKR 700

$2.47 LKR 816

-14.17%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 LKR 244

$0.73 LKR 241

1.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 LKR 157

$0.25 LKR 82.6

88.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 LKR 668

$2.19 LKR 724

-7.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 LKR 896

$3.10 LKR 1,024

-12.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 LKR 600

$1.56 LKR 516

16.03%

White Bread (500g)

$0.77 LKR 256

$0.53 LKR 175

45.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.61 LKR 203

$0.81 LKR 267

-24.69%

Eggs

$1.08 LKR 357

$1.64 LKR 543

-34.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.01 LKR 4,963

$13.05 LKR 4,315

15.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.31 LKR 2,086

$5.12 LKR 1,694

23.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.81 LKR 5,229

$7.39 LKR 2,444

113.94%

Apples (1kg)

$4.40 LKR 1,454

$6.87 LKR 2,270

-35.95%

Banana (1kg)

$0.76 LKR 251

$0.88 LKR 292

-13.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.26 LKR 1,407

$4.20 LKR 1,389

1.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.00 LKR 332

$1.24 LKR 411

-19.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 LKR 352

$1.01 LKR 335

4.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.44 LKR 477

$0.76 LKR 252

89.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 LKR 158

$0.93 LKR 308

-48.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 LKR 158

$0.48 LKR 160

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.12 LKR 4,339

$10.43 LKR 3,447

25.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.76 LKR 4,219

$13.76 LKR 4,550

-7.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 LKR 676

$1.91 LKR 630

6.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 LKR 968

$2.83 LKR 937

3.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 LKR 117

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 127

$0.41 LKR 137

-7.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 LKR 156

$0.38 LKR 126

23.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 LKR 305

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 LKR 321

$1.28 LKR 423

-24.22%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.9K LKR 6.6M

$31.1K LKR 10.3M

-35.80%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$19.8K LKR 6.6M

$41.9K LKR 13.9M

-52.73%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$54.5 LKR 18.0K

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$2.13 LKR 704

$4.09 LKR 1,351

-47.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.40 LKR 2,448

$21.14 LKR 6,990

-65.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.04 LKR 2,988

Cinema Ticket

$2.39 LKR 791

$4.55 LKR 1,505

-47.47%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$38.55 LKR 12.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,217 LKR 402.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$10.50 LKR 3,472

$20.29 LKR 6,710

-48.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$7.79 LKR 2,577

$16.85 LKR 5,570

-53.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 LKR 28.0K

$80.0 LKR 26.5K

5.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.60 LKR 8,463

$41.76 LKR 13.8K

-38.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.8 LKR 25.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$53.8 LKR 17.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$87.0 LKR 28.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$168 LKR 55.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.69

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ratnapura: September 12, 2026

Last update for Polonnaruwa: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $9.00 in Ratnapura versus $26.00 in Polonnaruwa. Groceries tell a different story – $261 in Ratnapura vs $237 in Polonnaruwa – so Polonnaruwa wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Ratnapura vs Polonnaruwa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Polonnaruwa costs about 3% more than Ratnapura, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $726 per month in Ratnapura and $750 in Polonnaruwa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $484 in Ratnapura and $500 in Polonnaruwa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Polonnaruwa – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $484 in Ratnapura and $500 in Polonnaruwa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Ratnapura – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Ratnapura. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Polonnaruwa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.